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NASCAR STARS TO CHALLENGE SHORT TRACK’S BEST AT SPEEDFEST 2024

 

(Cordele, GA) Excitement is building up for this weekend’s Protect Your Melon – Buckle Up SpeedFest 2024 at Crisp Motorsports Park in Cordele, Georgia.

 

Creating part of that excitement are the NASCAR drivers registered to compete in the ASA/CRA Super Series/ASA Southern Super Series 150-lap main event and the JEGS/CRA All-Star Tour Pro Late Model 100 on Saturday afternoon.

 

The NASCAR stars coming to challenge the best in Late Model short track racing include someone very familiar with watermelons, a veteran who earned his ride to the top series, a Peach State native making his return to the 3/8-mile D-shaped oval, and a young driver working starting to make waves in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

 

Ross Chastain - One of the most popular drivers in NASCAR, Ross Chastain is back in a Pro Late Model for the first time in over a decade. Famous for his ‘Hail-Melon’ move made famous at Martinsville, Chastain may want to reconsider that move with no walls through three at four at Crisp Motorsports Park.

 

Josh Berry - Gearing up for his Rookie season in the NASCAR Cup Series, Josh Berry will pilot the Kevin Harvick Incorporated Super Late Model. In what has been a grassroots Cinderella story, Berry heads back to the short tracks in Cordele, GA.

 

Brandon Jones – The Jr. Motorsports NASCAR Xfinity driver, and Georgia Native last competed at SpeedFest back in 2020 when he took part in both the Super Late Model and Pro Late portion of the afternoon. 2024 will be much of the same as Jones hops behind the wheel for 250 laps of feature action. Jones had a memorable weekend in 2014 when his car’s throttle stuck, sending him across the watermelon field coming to a stop on the other side of a creek beyond turns three and four. His team would get the car repaired and he finished 11th in the main event.

 

Jake Garcia – Coming off his 2023 campaign in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, which saw Garcia record 3 top five finishes. Jake will move over to the Sandusky Ohio based ThorSport Racing team in 2024. Garcia made two starts with the ASA STARS National Tour in 2023 with his strongest run at Winchester Speedway where he led 30 laps. 2023 saw Garcia make several starts in Super Late Model action. No stranger to Super Late Model racing, Jake will be a factor when the checkered flag falls on Saturday afternoon.

 

Four divisions will be in action on Saturday, January 20th with racing getting underway at 1pm. Qualifying will take place on Friday, Saturday, January 19th at 4:45pm.

 

The full entry list, schedule, and ticket information is available at southernsuperseries.com and CRA-racing.com.

 

Advance sale discounted tickets can be purchased at https://bit.ly/SpeedFestTix for a $5 per ticket discount. Tickets will also be available at the track on race day. Pit passes can be purchased in advance on the Pit Pay app or at the gate upon arrival.

 

For those unable to attend the popular event, online live coverage will be widespread with TrackTV.com, MidwestTour.TV, and Racing America all providing subscription-based coverage. Sign up now to receive live coverage of Friday qualifying and all of Saturday’s feature action for free with your TrackTV.com or MidwestTour.TV subscription.

Strong Fields to Heat Up Cool Weather at SpeedFest in Cordele, GA
30 Super Late Models Highlight 100+ Entries

(Cordele, GA) Over 100 race cars are entered for “Protect Your Melon – Buckle Up SpeedFest 2024” coming up this weekend in Cordele, GA. Officials are planning to go full speed ahead with the event despite the cold temperatures as the forecast also calls for sunshine. The Saturday afternoon, January 20 race is set to feature the season opening event for the ASA Southern Super Series vs the ASA CRA Super Series, JEGS/CRA All Stars Tour, Legends and Bandoleros.

Officials were forced to make a similar decision in 2022 when temperatures were unseasonably cold with sunshine. The high that day was 45 degrees but a surprisingly good crowd came to see what turned out to be great racing on that Saturday afternoon. Bubba Pollard went on to claim victory over Chandler Smith and Carson Hocevar.

As of Monday afternoon, the impressive entry lists have hit 30 for Super Late Models, the most SpeedFest entries since 2018. In addition, 24 JEGS/CRA All Stars presented by Chevrolet Performance, 32+ Legends, and approximately 15 Bandoleros put the total entries over 100.

This weekend’s festivities will get underway on Thursday afternoon with an optional practice for all teams with free grandstand admission. Cost for the optional practice is $150 per Late Model car and $100 per Legend and Bandolero car. Pits will open Thursday at 9:00 AM, while on track activity runs from 12:00 – 5:00 PM.

Friday action will include practice and qualifying for all four classes of cars with pits opening at 9:00 AM, rotating practice beginning at 12:00 PM, and qualifying on track starting at 4:45 PM.

The big day of the weekend is Saturday, with afternoon racing on tap. Grandstands are scheduled to open at 10:00 AM, with an on-track autograph session at 11:30 AM, and feature racing to take the green at 1:00 PM.

The ASA Southern Super Series Presented by Sunoco and ASA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS will sanction the 150-lap Super Late Model race and for the first time, SpeedFest will be a point race for the Southern Super Series. The JEGS/CRA All Stars Tour presented by Chevrolet Performance, Legends, and Bandoleros will complete the four strong divisions of competition at the Cordele, GA facility.

Advance sale discounted tickets can be purchased at https://bit.ly/SpeedFestTix for a $5 per ticket discount. Tickets will also be available at the track on race day. Pit passes can be purchased in advance on the Pit Pay app or at the gate upon arrival.
 

For those unable to attend the popular event, online live coverage will be widespread with TrackTV.com, MidwestTour.TV, and Racing America all providing subscription-based coverage. Sign up now to receive live coverage of Friday qualifying and all of Saturday’s feature action.

About “Protect Your Melon – Buckle Up SpeedFest” Event:

SpeedFest began in 2005 at the now defunct USA International Speedway in Lakeland, FL before moving to Georgia’s Lanier National Speedway in 2009. SpeedFest then found its home at Cordele Georgia’s Watermelon Capital Speedway at Crisp Motorsports Park in 2012 and has been held there ever since. Some of the biggest names in motorsports have won SpeedFest including Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, Harrison Burton, Chandler Smith, and Corey Heim. Bubba Pollard has won the last two SpeedFest events at the track.

 

 

New Wave of SpeedFest Entries Makes for Star Studded Field

 

(Cordele, GA) The entry list for the “Protect Your Melon – Buckle Up SpeedFest 2024” keeps getting stronger and stronger, with several Super Late Model stars entering the 150-lap race this week.

 

After the original wave of entries was released last week, race organizers have received entries from many of the best Super Late Model stars in the country. Headlining that list was 2023 Southern Super Series and CRA series champion, Gio Ruggiero. The Seekonk, MA became the first driver to win both series championships in the same season and also collected two ASA STARS National Tour victories.

 

Next up is Florida wheelman, Stephen Nasse. While Nasse will be looking for his first ever victory at SpeedFest, the Super Late Model star has claimed two Southern Super Series championships along with marquee wins in the All American 400, Winchester 400, and has claimed at least one of just about every big race at New Smyrna Speedway.

 

While many have talked about Ross Chastain racing in the Pro Late Model portion of SpeedFest, it has now been made official that NASCAR Cup Series driver, Josh Berry, will be competing in the Super Late Model portion of the weekend. Berry will be driving full-time this year for Stewart-Haas Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series but will pilot a Kevin Harvick entry at Watermelon Capital Speedway.

 

Other drivers who race full-time in NASCAR that will be making the trip to Georgia for the January 20 race include Brandon Jones, from nearby Atlanta, GA and fellow Georgia racer Jake Garcia. Jones has been a full-time competitor in the NASCAR Xfinity Series since 2015, while Jake Garcia will be driving full-time for ThorSport Racing in 2024 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

 

Add in 2-time CARS Tour Super Late Model champion and former All American 400 winner Matt Craig, 2-time Southern Super Series point champion and former All American 400 and Rattler winner, Casey Roderick, and ASA STARS National Tour point runner-up and Redbud 400 winner Cole Butcher to the list, and SpeedFest turns into a can’t miss event.

 

All of the aforementioned drivers add to an already strong list that included Bubba Pollard, of Senoia, GA, who has won the last two SpeedFest events, in addition to Michael Hinde, Billy VanMeter, Jett Noland, Jake Finch, and Michael Atwell. As of Friday afternoon, January 12, 2024, the field is at 26 cars and is expected to create the great racing fans are accustomed to seeing each year at the annual event.

 

The ASA Southern Super Series Presented by Sunoco and ASA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS will sanction the 150-lap Super Late Model race and for the first time, SpeedFest will be a point race for the Southern Super Series. The JEGS/CRA All Stars Tour presented by Chevrolet Performance, Legends, and Bandoleros will complete the four strong divisions of competition at the Cordele, GA facility.

 

SpeedFest began in 2005 at the now defunct USA International Speedway in Lakeland, FL before moving to Georgia’s Lanier National Speedway in 2009. SpeedFest then found its home at Cordele Georgia’s Watermelon Capital Speedway at Crisp Motorsports Park in 2012 and has been held there ever since. Some of the biggest names in motorsports have won SpeedFest including Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, Harrison Burton, Chandler Smith, and Corey Heim. Bubba Pollard has won the last two SpeedFest events at the track.

 

There will be an open practice on that Thursday from 1 to 5pm. Friday’s schedule will consist of practice and qualifying, with all features being run on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 PM ET. Advance sale discounted tickets can be purchased at https://bit.ly/SpeedFestTix



 

The driver / team entry forms for Speedfest are available at https://trackenterprises.wufoo.com/forms/entry-blank-speedfest-100. Additional track and event information as well as event camping opportunities can be found at www.trackenterprises.com and www.crispmotorsportspark.com. For track rental prior to the event, interested parties can contact Ben Sumner at 229-938-8814.


 

PROTECT YOUR MELON – BUCKLE UP SPEEDFEST 2024 TO BE SIMULCASTED LIVE

(Cordele, GA) Fans who are unable to attend “Protect Your Melon – Buckle Up SpeedFest 2024” at Watermelon Capital Speedway at Crisp Motorsports Park in Cordele, GA next week will have an array of options to watch all the action right from their home. Track Enterprises is thrilled to announce SpeedFest 2024 will be simulcasted live on TrackTV.com, MidwestTour.TV, and Racing America, providing fans unprecedented access to kick off the season.

Long time short track announcer Adam Mackey will lead the call on the broadcast, along with Southern Super Series announcer Bill Roth and Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway voice Jonathan Ramos, which will kick off with qualifying Friday, January 19th at 4:45pm EST. Racing action begins Saturday, January 20th at 1:00pm EST, with the Southern Super Series/CRA Super Series SpeedFest 150 concluding the weekend.

Visit TrackTV.com to lock in your subscription now and get ready for a season of racing like never before! Start enjoying replay and exclusive content from short tracks all over the country with your subscription today including SpeedFest 2023 which saw Georgia’s own, Bubba Pollard, win for the second straight year.

Protect Your Melon – Buckle Up SpeedFest 2024 at Watermelon Capital Speedway at Crisp Motorsports Park discounted in-person tickets are now available at https://bit.ly/SpeedFestTix.

Divisions Racing: ASA Southern Super Series-ASA/CRA Super Series Super Late Models, JEGS/CRA All Stars Tour presented by Chevrolet Performance Pro Late Models, and INEX Bandoleros, INEX Legends.

 

ASA Branded Tours To Kick Off 2024 Season January 20…Defending Champ Pollard Among Early SpeedFest Entries

Bruce Nuttleman

 

(Cordele, GA) While we await the ASA STARS National Tour to kick off the 2024 season in a month, two of the three ASA Branded Regional Tours will take to the track in just two weeks and many of the STARS National Tour drivers will be in action.

 

Two-time and defending “Protect Your Melon – Buckle Up SpeedFest” race winner Bubba Pollard headlines the early entry list for the 2024 version of the early season special for Super Late Models at Crisp Motorsports Park in Cordele, GA.

 

The ASA Southern Super Series Presented by Sunoco and ASA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS will sanction the 150-lap Super Late Model race and for the first time, SpeedFest will be a point race for the Southern Super Series.

 

Pollard, perhaps the best Super Late Model driver over the past two decades, has filed his entry in an effort to defend the race titles he won at Watermelon Capital Speedway in 2022 and 2023. The Georgia racer will once again be piloting the familiar #26 Pollard Motorsports / Phoenix Racing Ford in search of his 3rd consecutive win in the season opening event.

 

Pollard’s career accolades rival any other drivers in short track racing.  He’s won the Oxford 250, All American 400, Rattler 250, Slinger Nationals, and many other marquee races across the United States and into Canada. 

Since 2004, he was won 156 races and has finished in the top-ten in an astonishing 70% of his 564 recorded starts. The Georgia driver earned one ASA STARS National Tour win last season, coming at North Wilkesboro Speedway back in May.

Joining Pollard as early entries for the “Protect Your Melon – Buckle Up Speedfest” event are Florida racers Michael Hinde, Tony Elrod, and Michael Goddard, as well as Indiana’s Billy Van Meter and Alabama’s Dustin Smith.

 

Hinde and Van Meter competed in the ASA STARS National Tour in 2023, in addition to running several other series events. Hinde finished 12th in the final ASA STARS National Tour driver point standings and 4th in ASA Southern Super Series points.

 

Van Meter placed 6th in final ASA STARS points and 8th Southern Super Series. The second-generation Indianapolis racer also finished 4th in ASA/CRA Super Series points in 2023.

 

Elrod, who hails from Lecanto, FL, is also a regular on the ASA Southern Super Series tour, finishing 8th in points in 2023.

 

SpeedFest began in 2005 at the now defunct USA International Speedway in Lakeland, FL before moving to Georgia’s Lanier National Speedway in 2009. SpeedFest then found its home at Cordele Georgia’s Watermelon Capital Speedway at Crisp Motorsports Park in 2012 and has been held there ever since. Some of the biggest names in motorsports have won SpeedFest including Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, Harrison Burton, Chandler Smith, and Corey Heim. Bubba Pollard has won the last two SpeedFest events at the track.

 

There will be an open practice on that Thursday from 1 to 5pm. Friday’s schedule will consist of practice and qualifying, with all features being run on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 PM ET. Advance sale discounted tickets can be purchased at https://bit.ly/SpeedFestTix

 

The driver / team entry forms for Speedfest are available at https://trackenterprises.wufoo.com/forms/entry-blank-speedfest-100. Additional track and event information as well as event camping opportunities can be found at www.trackenterprises.com and www.crispmotorsportspark.com. For track rental prior to the event, interested parties can contact Ben Sumner at 229-938-8814.

 

ASA Branded Tours

ASA Branded Tours encompasses four (4) pavement Super Late Model racing series operating under the Track Enterprises banner and under the ASA Brand via a licensing agreement for logo and IP Rights. ASA Branded Tours include the ASA STARS National Tour, the ASA/CRA Super Series, the ASA Midwest Tour, and the ASA Southern Super Series.

Additional information on the ASA/CRA Series can be found at www.cra-racing.com. Information on the ASA Southern Super Series can be found at www.southersuperseries.com

 

Legend Division Sports Strong Entry List For “Protect Your Melon – Buckle Up SpeedFest”

January 20 Event to Be Run At Crisp Motorsports Park

(Cordele, GA) The entry lists for “Protect Your Melon – Buckle Up SpeedFest 2024” are looking strong for the January 19-20 event at Crisp Motorsports Park and Watermelon Capital Speedway. The annual event features four classes of racing with Super Late Models, Pro Late Models, Legends, and Bandoleros.

With over a week left before the event, all entry lists are heading north of the 20 mark and the Legend class is no different with nearly 30 talented racers, many of which will be the future stars of racing. Leading the list is 2022 SpeedFest winner and a Watermelon Capital Speedway champion, Cale Hall, of Griffin, GA. Hall has been an annual frontrunner in the event, finishing 6th last year, winning in 2022, and taking another top five back in 2020.

Other favorites include last year’s runner-up Donovan Strauss, from Marietta, GA, and Brooks, GA’s Garrett Gumm, who rounded out last year’s podium. All of last year’s track champions in Legends will be in attendance as well including Cole Denton (Young Lion Champ), Ronnie Wehunt (Masters Champ), Ian Hampton (Semi Pro Champ), Austin Cook (Charger Champ), and Garrett Gumm (Pro Champ).

The current entry list is at 30 so it is likely that the field will be split into two features based on qualifying speeds, which will be run on Saturday afternoon.

The race weekend begins on Thursday afternoon with an optional practice day from 12:00-5:00 PM. Cost per car for the optional practice day is $100 for Legends and Bandoleros and $150 for Super and Pro Late Models. Thursday’s practice cost includes that day’s pit admission.

Friday festivities include rotating Late Model practice beginning at 12:00 PM with Legends and Bandolero practice from 3:15-4:00 PM and qualifying on track at 4:45 PM with Legends and Bandoleros followed by Pro Late Models and Super Late Models.

The big day, Saturday, will begin with an on-track autograph session for all divisions at 11:30 AM, followed by feature racing at 1:00 PM.

Advance sale discounted tickets are available at https://bit.ly/SpeedFestTix. Pit passes are also available on the Pit Pay app to skip the line. More information on the event can be found at www.trackenterprises.com, www.crispmotorsportspark.com, www.cra-racing.com, and www.southernsuperseries.com.

Current Legends Entry List

Car #

Name

Hometown

4

Max Brady

Marietta, GA

5

Ronnie Wehunt

Canton, GA

5

Will Haire

Savannah, GA

5

Garrett Gumm

Brooks, GA

7

Nathan Jackson

McDonough, GA

8

Cooper Gaul

Seminole, FL

13

Will Crews

Dora, AL

16

Carson Youngblood

Flowery Branch, GA

17

Austin Cook

Macon, GA

17

HBR

Perry, GA

19

Michael Fraser

Cordele, GA

30

Trey Tadrzak

Stockbridge, GA

32

Jensen Jorgenson

Stockbridge, GA

34

Travis Streetman

Ellaville, GA

38

Emma Britt

Hampton, GA

38

Cameron White

Lakeland, FL

38jr

Bowen Mayhue

Roswell, GA

46

Cole Denton

Pascagoula, MS

46

Lane Christiansen

Pendergrass, GA

48

Kyle Bacon

Buchanan, GA

51

Donavan Strauss

Marietta, GA

62

Dylan Bongiovanni

Cumming, GA

66

Rusty Taylor

Nashville, TN

72

Luke Yarbrough

Cumming, GA

72

Nick Woodall

Canton, GA

73

Ian Hampton

Stockbridge, GA

75

Amanda Woodall

Canton, GA

77

Cale Hall

Griffin, GA

88

Keaton Hendrix

Homerville, GA

 

 
 

 

     

 

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